Which disc golf disc catching device, target, is the best one ever made in your opinion.
Defined criteria:
1) Catching Characteristic � does it catch thrown discs with the proper speed and trajectory consistently?
2) Durability � is it well made so that it lasts under normal course usage?
3) Dead Spots � does it catch thrown discs but in a way that the hole is not considered completed yet?
4) Visual Appeal � is the device good looking, would it be considered good looking to a new player?
Feel free to ask questions if you do not know about certain catching devices. Also feel free to tout the benefits or decry the faults of certain catching devices.

(Posts containing flaming or overly critical remarks may be edited by the moderator.)

Mach III is Excellent , but a Mach V is better.

The top sliding chain rack is the Best in the business !!!!!

I have 3 Mach V's and 1 Mach III . :D

I would have voted for the Chainstar over the Discatcher Pro, but I have seen more putts spit out of the Chainstar's because the two sets of chains are connected together and move dependently. This causes gaps in the chains and lets putts slip out. Other then that, I do actually prefer Chainstars to Discatchers.

Mach V with chain link on the bottom vs. the ring.

Acts like putting into your Mom's Drapes/ Living Room Curtains !!!!!! :eek: Really nice Cushion effect.

I like Independant moving chains , Not all linked together like a prisoner in hand cuffs !!!!!! :D

You can Modify your Chainstar !!!!!

Replace the bottom ring and re-assemble with # 2 chain link and connect them with proportionate " S " hooks !!!!!!

OH MY !!!!!!!!! :eek: :D

InStep basket for 49$ + shipping does a pretty good job. Add 15 bucks worth of chains from Home Depot and it does a very good job. Not on your list, but InStep is hands down best basket for the money

Mach V

I have to agree with Mr. Wiggins about the InStep basket.

It costs half as much as a skillshot and catches great. I was going to add chains to that empty inner ring he refers to, but so far I find it does perfectly well with just the 14 outer chains it comes with.

It's very sturdily constructed, and sets up/breaks down quickly with a few pins.

The only quibble I have is that the two basket settings leave you with a target area that is either 22 inches high or 16.5 inches high. It could use another setting between those without having to drill it yourself (which you can if you have a half-inch metal bit). Still, it's an excellent buy for a practice basket.

Mach III is Excellent



Mach III hole - cut through heaven

I still think the Mach V.

Reason : It has an off set chain rack , with the slider system.

High putts and left side , are absorbed.

Mach 3 is the Standard though. /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Still...........Mach V.

mach III's are terrible. the inner ring of chains is to close to the pole and to far from the outer set of chains. also, the basket is not as wide as a mach V. mach V's are great except for the gap on the left and right side in between the chains and the top of the basket. this causes low, off-center putts to miss while high off-center putts stay in (w/ more frequency). discatcher's are the best. they have the least amount of cut-throughs (and i should know), catch the most off-center putts, and have deep and wide baskets. before you whine about the yellow band, the area from the bottom of the band to the top of the rim is greater than that area of a mach V, plus the band adds extra inches to the top where on a mach V you would be blowing by or skipping off the top.

The Instep is horrible unless modified. I fixed mine and it caught a disc from 275'. So it is a good deal. There is a thread about modifying the Instep somewhere on here.

Strokesaver- mostly around TX but without a doubt the best catching basket followed by a Discatcher pro and Mach V

Unfortunately the general rule is that baskets do not catch effectively. By this I mean that a solid putt to the center of the chains has far too high a percentage chance of bouncing straight back out or slicing through. In fact, the scariest putts are the seemingly "perfect" putts. The failure rate of perfect putts seems to me to be in the 5-10% range. I would guess that I have thrown thousands of "perfect" putts that I picked off the ground. Well, at least they were perfect in the sense that they were exactly the speed, line and height I was attempting.

For years my practice putting basket has been a Mach 3. More specifically the Mach 3 practice basket at Kensington Metro Park in Milford, Michigan. I now have a Mach 3 in my basement as well but still do most of my serious practice at Kensington. I know many folks consider the Mach 3 the best around. Of the traditional baskets I have experienced the Mach 3 is on par with the Mach 5/Chainstar ( identical baskets except for the single/double ring at the bottom of the chains) and the Discatcher with double chains.

Baskets vary in their ability to catch weak putts (off center, too high or too hard). But realistically when you throw a weak putt you didn't earn it. Sometimes a weak putt sticks and sometimes it doesn't. Just like when you hit a tree- you might get lucky or you might not but you didn't earn it.

Given the superb quality of design of flying discs it is shocking how comparitively poorly baskets perform. When a disc flies poorly it is due to operator error. Just consider how good disc design technology is. The Dunipaces and Kenners of the world make nothing short of great frisbees. If you want a disc that goes left, right or straight you can find it no matter your level of skill. Controlling it consistently is, of course, left up to you. But, when a basket spits out an apparently excellent putt it is a function of poor basket design.

Golf in its purest sense should be your skill against the challenge created by the course. Luck should be a minor factor. Granted, luck cannot be eliminated in the sport of disc (or ball golf) but course designers, disc designers and basket designers should work to reduce luck as a factor in the score you record. If skill doesn't matter then your next sport should be the Roulette table. Or just play your next round using the blindfolded "pinata" rules.

Under current technology, basket design is about on par with bowling. A bowling ball hitting the pocket may produce a strike or a 7-10 split. Both shots look identical a micro-second before impact. Just like your gorgeous putt spits out the back and rolls down the hill into the creek.

Back when Steady Ed was alive I talked to him about this. His opinion was that good putters knew how to throw putts that stayed in (not that he could do it, mind you). So I talked to lots of good putters. Most good putters that I spoke to just try to hit the center of the chains and hold their breath hoping it stays in. It is my belief that even the greatest putters do essentially the same thing. And I know and have played with most of the best putters in the world. Unfortunately, it hasn't rubbed off as much as I would like.

So the best basket around is the Spiderweb by Alan Pier in the Indiana area. I admit my experience is limited as none are planted in my area. Al Schack does have one as his personal practice basket, so my total experience is a few hundred putts. To date, I have have never seen a bounce back or blow through on a Spiderweb. Schack claims they are very rare.

The fabulous Cabin Creek course in Ohio has them and they hosted the finals of the PDGA World Championships. Spiders have a triple set of chains and a deep basket. They comply with PDGA technical standards but have never been submitted for approval except for the individual baskets residing at Cabin Creek.

With patent law restrictions evaporating as the clock ticks I am looking forward to day when a solid putt to the center of the chains is a sure thing.

Mark Ellis

Unfortunately the general rule is that baskets do not catch effectively. By this I mean that a solid putt to the center of the chains has far too high a percentage chance of bouncing straight back out or slicing through. In fact, the scariest putts are the seemingly "perfect" putts. The failure rate of perfect putts seems to me to be in the 5-10% range. I would guess that I have thrown thousands of "perfect" putts that I picked off the ground. Well, at least they were perfect in the sense that they were exactly the speed, line and height I was attempting.

For years my practice putting basket has been a Mach 3. More specifically the Mach 3 practice basket at Kensington Metro Park in Milford, Michigan. I now have a Mach 3 in my basement as well but still do most of my serious practice at Kensington. I know many folks consider the Mach 3 the best around. Of the traditional baskets I have experienced the Mach 3 is on par with the Mach 5/Chainstar ( identical baskets except for the single/double ring at the bottom of the chains) and the Discatcher with double chains.

Baskets vary in their ability to catch weak putts (off center, too high or too hard). But realistically when you throw a weak putt you didn't earn it. Sometimes a weak putt sticks and sometimes it doesn't. Just like when you hit a tree- you might get lucky or you might not but you didn't earn it.

Given the superb quality of design of flying discs it is shocking how comparitively poorly baskets perform. When a disc flies poorly it is due to operator error. Just consider how good disc design technology is. The Dunipaces and Kenners of the world make nothing short of great frisbees. If you want a disc that goes left, right or straight you can find it no matter your level of skill. Controlling it consistently is, of course, left up to you. But, when a basket spits out an apparently excellent putt it is a function of poor basket design.

Golf in its purest sense should be your skill against the challenge created by the course. Luck should be a minor factor. Granted, luck cannot be eliminated in the sport of disc (or ball golf) but course designers, disc designers and basket designers should work to reduce luck as a factor in the score you record. If skill doesn't matter then your next sport should be the Roulette table. Or just play your next round using the blindfolded "pinata" rules.

Under current technology, basket design is about on par with bowling. A bowling ball hitting the pocket may produce a strike or a 7-10 split. Both shots look identical a micro-second before impact. Just like your gorgeous putt spits out the back and rolls down the hill into the creek.

Back when Steady Ed was alive I talked to him about this. His opinion was that good putters knew how to throw putts that stayed in (not that he could do it, mind you). So I talked to lots of good putters. Most good putters that I spoke to just try to hit the center of the chains and hold their breath hoping it stays in. It is my belief that even the greatest putters do essentially the same thing. And I know and have played with most of the best putters in the world. Unfortunately, it hasn't rubbed off as much as I would like.

So the best basket around is the Spiderweb by Alan Pier in the Indiana area. I admit my experience is limited as none are planted in my area. Al Schack does have one as his personal practice basket, so my total experience is a few hundred putts. To date, I have have never seen a bounce back or blow through on a Spiderweb. Schack claims they are very rare.

The fabulous Cabin Creek course in Ohio has them and they hosted the finals of the PDGA World Championships. Spiders have a triple set of chains and a deep basket. They comply with PDGA technical standards but have never been submitted for approval except for the individual baskets residing at Cabin Creek.

With patent law restrictions evaporating as the clock ticks I am looking forward to day when a solid putt to the center of the chains is a sure thing.

Mark Ellis



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